Description:
This demonstration will show how activating a client’s creative process is the key factor in generative psychotherapy. This process follows these steps:
(1) Opening a creative safe space
(2) Identifying a goal (A positive change or transforming a negative pattern)
(3) Identifying and welcoming both obstacles and resources
(4) Weaving and integrating the parts into a new "mosaic of self"
(5) Orienting to future application of changes.
Therapy is successful when clients are able to experientially realize positive life changes. While the identification and transformation of symptoms is important in this regard, the activation of the client's creative capacity to change is even more important. This paper outlines 6 steps in this therapeutic process: (1) opening a mindful field, (2) setting positive intentions, (3) developing and maintaining a creative state, (4) identifying a “storyboard” for achieving goals, (5) transforming negative experiences, and (6) everyday practices. Methods and case examples will be given to illuminate this core process.
Educational Objectives:
*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*
Stephen Gilligan Ph.D., is a Psychologist in Encinitas, CA. He was one of the original NLP students at UC Santa Cruz; Milton Erickson and Gregory Bateson were his mentors. After receiving his psychology doctorate from Stanford University, he became one of the premier teachers and practitioners of Ericksonian hypnotherapy. This work unfolded into his original approaches of Self-Relations and Generative Self, and then further (in collaboration with Robert Dilts) into Generative Coaching. These different traditions have all been updated and integrated into the present Generative Change Work, which includes the applications of Generative Coaching, Generative Psychotherapy, Generative Trance, Hero’s Journey, and Systemic Change work.